AP(Eye) on the Hill is our bi-weekly highlight of significant federal updates, particularly those that impact AAPI communities regarding reproductive, immigration, and economic justice. Learn about NAPAWF’s and other national AAPI groups’ federal policy work while you’re out on the ground!

Last Thursday, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 6545) in order to continue the funding and services provided in the current Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The reauthorization bill provides updates to the existing VAWA by incorporating the feedback and need identified by direct service providers of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and other gender-based violence. If the reauthorization fails, the existing VAWA will expire on September 30, 2018. According to the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (API-GBV), 21-55% of AAPI women report experiencing intimate physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

Despite deadline, hundreds of immigrant children remain separated from their parents

July 26 marked the deadline that federal judge Dana Sabraw mandated for the government to reunite the thousands of children who have been separated from their parents at the border. However, despite nearly 1,500 children having been returned to their parents detained in immigration custody, over 700 children remain separated because their parents have criminal records keeping them from being release or have already been deported. Many of these families are now faced with the choice of being deported back to the US together, or remaining separated from their children across the border.

Get more details on the lack of the government’s accountability in reuniting families

Senator Marco Rubio introduces harmful paid leave bill

Photo credit: Amnesty International

Yesterday, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Economy Security for New Parents Act (S. 3345), a conservative paid leave bill that allows new parents to withdraw Social Security benefits early in return for delayed retirement. Not only does the bill provide inadequate financial benefits and insufficient time off, it only applies to new parents and not individuals who need to take paid leave for caring for their sick children, ailing parents, or time to recover from serious illness. The bill coincides with the 25th anniversary of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and contrasts Senator Gillibrand’s (D-NY) FAMILY Act, which would provide at least twelve weeks of paid leave for workers to care for family members. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) plans on introducing the House companion bill next month.

Call your Senator and tell them to oppose Sen. Rubio’s bill and instead support the FAMILY Act if they are not already a cosponsor